Duchenne: Shalom's Lifelong Partner-in-Crime — Shalom Lim Ern Rong

Despite the significant health challenges I face as a person living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, I’ve come to realize that creativity can thrive in the most unexpected places. One such place is social…

The Lunar New Year has always been a time of reflection and renewal for me. This year, though, it was bittersweet because my longtime caregiver plans to return to her home country in a…

Rediscovering my creative self has been one of the most fulfilling yet challenging parts of my journey with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A few weeks ago, I started an exciting adventure with…

A few days ago, I watched the Netflix documentary “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin.” I wasn’t prepared for how deeply it would move me. The film follows Mats Steen, a young man from…

Living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has involved a series of challenges and triumphs, each shaping the person I am today. As 2025 approaches, I’m reflecting on that journey as well as imagining…

Last Saturday, I performed a monologue titled “Connection” at the Enabling Lives Festival here in Singapore. ART:DIS, a local nonprofit that uses the arts to support people with disabilities, organized the event as…

On Saturday, I presented at the Participation — Inclusion in Action Conference 2024, which was held in my home of Singapore for the first time. My physiotherapist at the National University Hospital, who’s…

Three weeks ago, my girlfriend, Amanda, and I embarked on a unique journey by co-founding Rebirth Ensemble (RE), an art-making business with a distinct purpose. This partnership is deeply rooted in our shared passion…

Since September, my life has moved in an exciting new direction, starting with becoming a marketing communications assistant at Shalom Medcare (SMC), a medical transport company here in Singapore. In case you’re wondering,…

Last Saturday, I had the honor of participating in the third Singapore Health Patient Advocate Connection event (SPACe) hosted by the SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN). As a cast member of the…

While observing World Duchenne Awareness Day over the weekend, I reflected on the journey my family and I have taken, which has been shaped by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This year the…

Earlier this month, I attended the debut of Stephanie Esther Fam’s play “Absence” at Singapore’s Gateway Theatre Black Box. Fam, a leading Singaporean poet and playwright in disability-led theater, is also…